Former Vishwa Hindu Parishad president caught during bank robbery

JAIPUR: Former district president of Vishwa Hindu Parishad Krishna Murari Sharma was arrested on Wednesday after he made a failed attempt of robbery at SBBJ's Vaishali Nagar branch in the city. He had barged into the bank armed with chilli power and a gun. He pointed his gun at the cashier in the presence of five staff members. However, some members raised an alarm following which nearby residents and customers standing outside barged into the bank and overpowered him.

According to SHO, Vaishali Nagar, Mahmood Khan, Sharma is a resident of Nagar in Bharatpur and is a tent manufacturer.

"Sharma is a former Bharatpur district president of VHP and former district coordinator of Kishan Sabha. He had suffered business losses to the tune of Rs 20 lakh recently following which he was under heavy debt. Thus, he decided to rob the bank to clear the debt," said Khan. The officer added that he had been doing recee of the bank situated behind the National Handloom near Nursery Circle for a week.

Police said that he had even stolen a bike from the city's Muralipura area on Wednesday morning. He allegedly told the police that he bought the country made-gun for Rs 20,000 from Nagar in Bharatpur a week ago. He also bought chilli powder and a bottle from Vaishali Nagar.

Sharma filled the bottle with chilli powder and entered the bank around 2.45pm along with a gun. "The staff including cashier Gopal Gupta was having lunch at that time as there were no customers. He asked them how to open a bank account. The staff told him to wait for a few minutes, however, he suddenly took out the gun and pointed it at the cashier. He asked him to get the money from the bank's vault. But Gupta on the pretext of getting keys to the vault suddenly turned around and pushed him," said the officer.

Gutpa ran outside the bank and raised an alarm. One Anil Singh who had come to open a locker in the bank was standing outside the bank with Yogendra Kumar. On hearing cries for help, both rushed into the bank. A nearby shopkeeper Abhishek Sharma also came on hearing the noise coming from inside the bank and overpowered Sharma who was trying to flee sensing that his plan had failed.

"The staff and residents informed the police following which a team was rushed to the spot and he was taken into custody," said the officer.

"He had planned the robbery meticulously but was no professional, so he could not carry it out. Besides, a police team immediately reached the spot," said the officer. The police will produce the accused before a court on Thursday.